Zagrotes, Zamani & Chatzaki & Esyunin & Marusik, 2021

Zamani, Alireza, Chatzaki, Maria, Esyunin, Sergei L. & Marusik, Yuri M., 2021, One new genus and nineteen new species of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Iran, with other taxonomic considerations, European Journal of Taxonomy 751 (1), pp. 68-114 : 106

Genus Zagrotes gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CB64BAF3-DC7E-4A1D-87FE-CE94F4B47651

Type species

Zagrotes apophysalis sp. nov., from southwestern Iran.

Diagnosis

The male of the new genus differs from other Zelotinae Platnick, 1990 occurring in the region by the large modified palpal patella being longer than the tibia, with a swollen proximal part, swollen base of the tibial apophysis, the tibia being two times wider distally than proximally and the bifid tibial apophysis. The female of Zagrotes gen. nov. differs from other species of Zelotinae (except for some female Berinda spp. ) by having a distinct flexible scape with a digitiform tip.

Etymology

A combination of ʻZagrosʼ, a mountain range in Iran, Iraq and southeastern Turkey, and ʻ Zelotes ʼ, referring to the distribution and affinity of the new genus, respectively.

Description

Same as for the type species.

Comments

Although the epigyne is different from those of all other genera of Zelotinae, and the male palp has modifications unknown in other members of this subfamily, the genus is placed in Zelotinae due to the presence of a preening comb on metatarsus III.

Composition

Only the type species.

Distribution

Southwestern and southern Iran.